Magyar Országház

Magyar Országház

Building

The Magyar Országház (literally the Hungarian House of the Nation) is the site for the assembly of the National Assembly of Hungary. The building was built in a Neo-Gothic Style with Baroque elements. Construction began in 1885 as a larger meeting building was required for the Kingdom of Hungary which was a component kingdom of the dual monarchy of Austro-Hungary as which ruled the Transleithanian portion of the empire. Such a larger place of meeting was also required after the cities of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda were consolidated into the single city of Budapest in 1873. As the structure was built and completed during the old days of the monarchy, it was built in an architectural style that was popular at the time to make immense, beautiful, commanding buildings. With two main wings, the assembly could house the House of Commons and the House of Magnates. Both wings would be used until the beginning of the Soviet occupation which enforced a one-party rule that only used the House of Commons for assemblies and the upper house for inner circle meetings. Inside the structure, the parliament is guilded with finery and adorned with various paintings of famous Hungarian kings, politicians, and generals. On the outside, three flags are flown. The Hungarian flag is flown with the European Union flag, and with the flag of the Székelyföld (Szeklerland) as that region is home to the most Hungarians outside of Hungary. This picture of the parliament was taken from the Danube River has said structure is positioned right along the banks of the Danube on the Pest side of the city. It is also more or less directly across from the castle district on the other side of the river where one can see the royal palace and Buda Castle perched atop the Buda Hills.

Imre Steindl

Jakob Ware

01/26/2020

English

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